82ND WEST AFRICAN DIVISION NEAR TAMANDU (22/3/1945)

This film is held by the Imperial War Museum (ID: JFU 95).

Synopsis

82nd West African Division move their headquarters to the banks of the Dalet river, about a mile north east of the village of Tamandu, Arakan, Burma.

A group of African soldiers build a basha frame with bamboo poles; they lash the poles together. A soldier brings back palm leaves on his shoulder. Two African wireless operators communicate with other formations nearby. Soldiers cover a frame with palm leaves. More basha frames are built and a machete is used to trim off the ends of bamboo poles. Men carry full sacks on their heads. Men put canvas on the roof of a frame. A cook tastes something from a pot on a cooking fire. White and African soldiers by the river; they swim and splash together as a river boat passes behind them. Three white and African soldiers unpack radio equipment, inspect it and clean it. A valve is examined. Three African soldiers adjust a wireless set outside a tent. An African soldier sends a message using a morse key. Palm leaves are attached to a basha frame. A barber gives the men hair cuts; he uses clippers. In the sergeants' mess men sit on benches made of bamboo at a table made of bamboo under a palm covered frame. Three African soldiers erect an aerial pole, one uses a mallet to hammer in a stake to hold the guy wire. Soldiers carry ration tins on their heads. African soldiers swim around a hollowed out canoe. The men in the canoe try to paddle. More soldiers swim. Two soldiers dive off the canoe into the water. A soldier is at the top of a ladder attaching telephone cables to a tree. African soldiers line up to get food from the cookhouse. Their mess tins are filled for them and they sit in a circle and eat. Another shot of the sergeants' mess. General views of the camp and river craft at a landing stage. Soldiers examine a 75mm gun captured from the Japanese. A suspect, possibly Burmese (according to the dopesheet), is brought to the camp for questioning. The suspect sits in the back of a jeep surrounded by soldiers, one carries a machete. The suspect is led through the camp. The suspect sits on his haunches and talks, gesticulating with his hands. A basha has a sign outside reading "Map Depot". Soldiers point at a map hanging on the outside wall of the basha.

Notes

The suspect in this film appears to be a member of the Burma National Army (BNA) which was raised by the Japanese to fight against the British. The dopesheet notes however 'MCU [Medium Close-up] Interrogating a suspect (found to be friendly)' so it is not entirely clear what this man's allegiance was, particularly as the BNA was, by 1944, in the process of changing its loyalties from the Japanese to the Allies.

 

Titles

  • 82ND WEST AFRICAN DIVISION NEAR TAMANDU (22/3/1945) (Allocated)
Series Title:
BRITISH ARMY OPERATIONS IN SOUTH EAST ASIA DURING THE SECOND WORLD WAR
 

Technical Data

Year:
1945
Running Time:
11 minutes
Film Gauge (Format):
35mm
Colour:
B&W
Sound:
Silent
Footage:
950 ft
 

Production Credits

Production Countries:
GB
Sponsor
War Office Directorate of Public Relations
cameraman
Brown, T V (Sergeant)
Production company
SEAC Film Unit
 

Countries

 

Production Organisations